WhatsApp Adds New Chat Themes and Animated Wallpapers for iPhone Users: Here’s How to Change Them

WhatsApp is giving iPhone users more ways to personalise the appearance of their conversations. A new update is introducing additional chat theme categories, including animated backgrounds that can add subtle movement to the chat screen.

According to the information available, the redesigned theme gallery includes five categories: Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal and Doodle. Each category offers a different visual style, allowing users to choose a background that better matches their preferences.

The most notable addition is the Live category, which features animated wallpapers. Unlike conventional static backgrounds, these wallpapers include gentle motion while users are viewing their conversations.

However, the feature is reportedly being rolled out gradually. This means some iPhone users may receive the new themes earlier than others.

WhatsApp Gets Five New Chat Theme Categories

The updated theme gallery has been organised into five different sections, making it easier for users to browse backgrounds based on their preferred style.

The categories include:

Featured: This section contains themes selected or curated by WhatsApp's design team. Users looking for some of the platform's highlighted designs can explore this category first.

Nature: As its name suggests, the Nature collection focuses on outdoor-inspired scenery and landscape-style wallpapers.

Live: This is one of the most interesting additions. Wallpapers included in this section feature subtle animation in the background.

Minimal: Users who prefer a cleaner chat interface can explore the Minimal collection. These wallpapers are designed to keep the background simple, including lighter appearances in Light Mode and darker backgrounds in Dark Mode.

Doodle: WhatsApp's familiar doodle-style wallpaper also gets its own category, bringing back the classic pattern many longtime users will recognise.

Together, these options provide users with more flexibility when changing the visual appearance of their WhatsApp conversations.

Animated Wallpapers Are the Biggest Addition

The Live category is likely to attract the most attention because it introduces moving backgrounds to chats.

Instead of remaining completely static, these wallpapers have gentle animation designed to create a more dynamic appearance.

According to the source information, WhatsApp identifies these backgrounds with a Live icon, making it easier for users to distinguish animated wallpapers from regular ones.

The movement has reportedly been kept intentionally subtle. This is important because excessive animation behind a conversation could make messages more difficult to read or become distracting during longer chats.

The idea appears to be to add visual movement without interfering with the primary purpose of the app—reading and sending messages.

Chat Bubble Colours Can Match the Selected Theme

Changing a WhatsApp theme isn't necessarily limited to switching the wallpaper.

The app can also adjust the appearance of chat bubbles according to the selected theme, helping the different visual elements of a conversation look more consistent.

This means users can potentially change the overall feel of a chat rather than simply replacing its background image.

Someone who prefers a clean interface may opt for a Minimal theme, while another user looking for a more colourful or visually engaging experience may prefer Featured, Nature or Live options.

How to Change WhatsApp Chat Themes on iPhone

iPhone users who have received the feature can look for the new options through WhatsApp's chat-theme settings.

First, make sure you are running a recent version of WhatsApp on your iPhone.

Open WhatsApp and navigate to the settings area where chat appearance or chat themes are managed.

Open the available theme gallery. If the updated feature has reached your account, you should be able to browse categories such as Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal and Doodle.

Select the theme or wallpaper you prefer and preview its appearance.

Once satisfied with your selection, apply it to customise the look of your conversations.

The exact names and placement of individual options may vary depending on the WhatsApp version installed on the device.

Can't See the New WhatsApp Themes Yet?

If you open WhatsApp but cannot find these new categories, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your iPhone.

The feature is reportedly being released through a gradual rollout, which means availability may vary between users.

One account may receive the feature while another account running WhatsApp on a similar iPhone may have to wait longer.

Keeping WhatsApp updated to the latest version available through Apple's App Store can help ensure that your device is ready when the feature becomes available for your account.

However, installing the latest version does not necessarily guarantee immediate access when a feature is being enabled gradually.

Classic WhatsApp Doodle Wallpaper Is Still Available

Users who prefer WhatsApp's traditional appearance have not been forgotten.

The new Doodle category retains the familiar pattern associated with WhatsApp's classic chat background. This provides an option for people who want access to newer customisation controls without completely changing the familiar appearance of their conversations.

Meanwhile, the Minimal category is aimed at users who want fewer visual distractions.

The availability of multiple styles means users can choose anything from a simple background to a more dynamic animated experience.

WhatsApp Continues to Expand Chat Customisation

Personalisation has become an increasingly important part of messaging apps. Users may spend hours every day inside their conversations, so even relatively small changes to colours, backgrounds and visual styles can significantly alter the overall experience.

With five theme categories and animated Live wallpapers, WhatsApp is giving iPhone users additional control over how their chats look.

If the new options are not showing on your device yet, check for the latest WhatsApp update and wait for the rollout to reach your account.

Once available, explore the Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal and Doodle collections to find a style that suits you. The animated Live wallpapers are particularly worth checking out if you want to give your WhatsApp conversations a fresh new appearance without making the interface overly distracting.